ART92795 - Conflict in the land of the Minotaur
- Image 1
- Image 2
Image copyright: © Australian War Memorial licensed copyright
- ID number
- ART92795
- Title
- Conflict in the land of the Minotaur
- Artist
- Winters, Michael
- Object type
- Place made
- Australia: Australian Capital Territory, Canberra
- Date made
- 2004
- Medium
- linocut on paper; edition: 1/25
- Measurement
- overall: 35 x 50 cm; image: 33 x 48.3 cm
- Collection
- Art
- Description
- Crete was the home of the mythological Minotaur, a half man half beast. The Minotaur lived in a labyrinth and King Minos sacrificed men and women to the creature by locking them in the Labyrinth to wander around aimlessly until they were killed. Years later the warrior Theseus arrived on Crete to attempt to slay the Minotaur. Ariadne, daughter of Minos and Pasiphae, fell in love with Theseus and asked Daedalus to help him. Daedalus gave her a piece of thread for Theseus to tie on the door of the Labyrinth as he entered so that after killing the Minotaur he could find his way out. Theseus succeeded in slaying the Minotaur and escaped from Crete with Ariadne. Centuries later new warriors came to do battle in the land of the Minotaur and they added another layer to the history of Crete.
